The goal of this lesson is to assess what you know, and what you most need to
learn, in order to be able comfortably manage the basics of using a computer. By
the end of this lesson you should have a specific plan using specific resources
for mastering the basics for using a computer. Online lessons are available for
self-directed learning and mentors are available both online and locally offline
if you’d like personal assistance.

The Special
Mindset for Success: Patience and Perseverance

Learning to experiment and ‘play’ is
important, and is one reason youth are so far ahead of adults in their comfort
level with computers. Adults need to learn to play and not to fear they will
break the computer, or shame themselves forever, if they make a mistake.
Mistakes are positive learning experiences, make lots of them!

Computers take patience and
perseverance, and can often be extremely frustrating, particularly when one is
just getting started and friendly help is not immediately available.

It is more important to maintain an
accurate overview of the capabilities of computers and Internet than to feel one
has to know “how to do” everything. Once you determine what capabilities you
wish to acquire as skills, learning the “how-to” is generally a straight-forward
step-by-step process, which is always made more enjoyable when you can learn
with, or from, someone else.

We're All
Immigrants to a New Age - Margaret Mead

A
Computer Literacy Primer

The hardest part of learning to use
computers and Internet is getting
started! Many people feel threatened by all there is to learn, until
they gain self-confidence from learning a few initial skills. Once you better understand the broad range of possibilities, you’ll find
that what you really need to learn is far less than you probably thought at first.

When using computers, nearly everything you’ll do involves files in some way.
Files of different types are created by different types of software programs and contain different types of information: text, images,
web pages, etc. You’ll basically be creating, editing, moving, sending, or
receiving files of one kind or another. Most software programs have similar
menus, so once you learn to use files related to a specific program, such as a
word-processor, you’ll have already mastered the basics of most programs
regardless of the different types of files they’ll use.

Nearly everything with computers becomes much more fun once you get past the
jittery basics. Patience and perseverance will see you through! Take lots of
breaks, use the HELP buttons contained in most software programs as they offer
step-by-step instructions for most everything you can think of. Talk to those
who have been using computers for a while to benefit from their experience and
advice.

Learn with others whenever possible and don’t be hard on yourself when you get
stuck. Problems are most always little things which are best resolved by asking
questions and/or noodling around when you’re fresh.

Assessing Your Basic Computer Skills

This lesson is intended to help you assess what you
already know and what you most need to learn regarding basic computer skills. To
start, you really only need to learn those skills you’re ready to use. Gaining
an overview of what’s possible will help you understand where you are on
your learning journey to mastering the personal power of computers. Ideally,
this lesson is to be the starting point for discussions with a mentor in order to create an
individualized learning plan with specific goals and a timeline. Read the text
for this lesson, fill out the survey, and share the survey with your instructor
along with your thoughts on what you’d like to learn first.

Learning by doing. It is important to experiment
and play when learning computers. Computers run software applications programs
which create specific types of files so you need to really understand how to
work with files.

The biggest mistake most people make is thinking
they need to learn it all right away. The truth is actually the reverse. The
most important thing to know is what all you don’t have to learn – possibly
ever! What you need to gain is an overview of the main computer applications
from which you can select what you really do need to know and/or want to learn.
For example, you really do need to learn to type and use a word processor. You
really need to understand the basics of Windows and managing files before
continuing with the essential Internet skills lessons below.

___What are your biggest needs in order to learn essential computer and
Internet
skills?

___Do you have someone locally you can ask for help whenever necessary?

___(Y or N) Would you link an online Mentor?

___Would like like a local mentor for face-to-face training sessions?

Windows Basic Skills Checklists

Please rate the following from Low to
High, 1-5

___ I am comfortable with the basics of the Windows operating system

___ I know how to start up a software application and to close it.

___ I understand how to minimize and maximize applications windows.

___ I know how to minimize multiple open applications on the task bar at
the
bottom of the screen and reopen them at any time.

___ I understand how to resize application windows and move them anywhere
on
the screen.

___ I have reviewed the Windows tutorials on using the Windows operating
system
found in Start/Help under “Windows Basics” or under a similar heading.

___ I can use the Windows HELP button effectively to find specific help
tips.

___ I know how to enter “Windows Basics” in the HELP search box and/or
anything else I need help on.

___ I have someone I can ask for help when I have questions.

Windows Basics Self-Test
Perform the following tasks for your mentor or report online to your mentor your
successes and questions.

1.Open three different software programs, resize and position the windows
so you can see all three applications on the screen at once.

2.Minimize all three programs and create a new folder on the desktop.

3.Create a wordprocessing file and save it on the desktop

4.Move this new file into the new folder using drag and drop.

5.Open the folder and confirm you successfully moved the file.

6.Using the Windows Help menus locate instructions for cut and paste and
drag and drop. Point to what tutorials come with windows for learning file
management. (copy delete move rename, view properties)

File Management Basics Checklist

Context: Nearly everything you’ll do with computers revolves around
creating content in the form of different types of files using different
software programs. You’ll need to be comfortable with creating, saving, opening,
and editing files. Then you’ll need to understand storing, organizing, renaming,
moving, copying, deleting and backing up your important files. Plan on learning
by doing. Mistakes are considered positive learning experiences and are an
essential part of using and learning computers. Trouble shooting gets easier
with practice.

Begin by drafting a personal list the skills you have and the skills you
want to learn.
Then complete the following checklists and self-tests.

___ I understand all software programs create files which can be saved,
deleted,
copied, moved, and renamed.

___ I understand that the three letter file extension (.doc etc.)
determines the file
type and limits the type of software that can open and use that file
type.

___ I understand “Windows Explorer” is the file management program that is
important to learn for handling files and that tutorials are available at
Start/Help and enter “file management” in the HELP search box.

___ I know where to find “Windows Explorer” in the programs listing.
(Start/All Programs)

___ I understand how to create new folders, create a folder within a
folder, and
move files from one folder to another.

___ I understand how to use the View Menu options to see the contents of
any folder
presented in many different ways.

___ I understand how to quickly find specific instructions by using the
HELP search
box by entering phrases like “copy a file” to learn to copy a file.

___ I understand how to move files using “drag and drop.”

___ I understand how to right click and select properties to determine
file type and
file size.

File Management Self TestPerform the following tasks for your mentor or report online to your
mentor your successes and questions.

1.Create a new folder on the desktop named “Test Folder #1” and save a
simple word processing document to this folder.

2.Create a new folder on the desktop named “Test Folder #1” and save a
simple word processing document to this folder.

3.Create a folder named “Test Folder #2” within this folder and move the
word processing file into this new folder.

4.Put a copy of this file into the first folder you created.

5.Rename this file.

6.Create another new folder on the desktop named “Test Folder #3” and move
Test Folder #2 into this folder.

7.Delete all these folders and files.

Copy and Paste Basic Skills

___ I know how to highlight a block of text and/or image and three ways to
copy and
paste them to any open document